Arisi, a multi-disciplinary dance performance, will be staged at the Sangeet Academy on January 15, 2023. Photo Credits: Courtesy: Apsaras Arts
“Food is a great way to look at humanity” – Jonathan Gould, American food and music critic.
Dishes are not just culinary delights, they are also cultural signifiers. Apart from taste and flavour, what is served on the plate has to do with human emotions. And, emotions define art.
‘Arisi: Rice – Grains of Life’, a multi-disciplinary dance presentation by Singapore-based Apsaras Arts shows how food nourishes bodies as well as souls and civilizations. The integrated grain brings together people and cultures across Asia. The unusual narrative depicts paddy fields not only as agricultural land, but also as places that symbolize everyday life, traditions, and rituals.
Arisi – Balinese dance
, Video Credit: Special Arrangement
Conceptualized and directed by Aravinth Kumarasamy and written by Mohanpriyan Thavarjah and Prof. Choreographed by I Wayan Dibia, it features dancers from Apsaras Arts sharing the stage with Balinese dancers from the GEOK ensemble and guest dancers from India.
‘Arisi’ is a collaborative dance performance. , Photo Credits: Courtesy: Apsaras Arts
“In Asian cultures, this grain plays an important role from birth to death. The production is based on two narratives – the cultivation of rice, and its journey from field to plate, and the rice culture of the region. Not just in India, celebrations and rituals in most other Asian countries are incomplete without rice. What better way to showcase the artistic heritage of the region than to present a dance on this important grain,” says Aravinth Kumarasamy.
Arisi – Aravinth Kumarasamy
, Video Credit: Special Arrangement
Supported by the Consulate General of the Republic of Singapore in Chennai, ‘Arisi’ will have its international premiere in the city. “Since both Balinese dance and Bharatanatyam have their roots in Natyashastra, it was not the difficult choreographed movements that established the connection between the dance forms. Collaboration with Bali was logical as it also has a strong rice culture. If you go to any temple in Bali, the priest will give you rice instead of Vibhuti or kumkum. “Interestingly, it is said that rice was exported from Bali in the 10th century as the people there had mastered the art of rice cultivation.”
In this piece, dancers from Apsara Arts share the stage with Balinese dancers from the GEOK ensemble and guest dancers from India. Photo Credits: Courtesy: Apsaras Arts
The music of this production is composed by over 90 Indian and Balinese musicians in addition to the Singapore-Chinese Orchestra. Rajkumar Bharathi has composed the music while Sai Sravanam has arranged and produced it. “Creating music for such a work was both fascinating and mysterious,” says Rajkumar. “While recording the music in Bali, I could hear the birds, feel the wind coming through the paddy fields, beautiful Could see the reflections of the temples. It was equally wonderful to work with the Singapore-Chinese Orchestra and see the ragas merging into their melodies”, says Sai.
Arisi – Mohanpriya – Choreography
, Video Credit: Special Arrangement
‘Arisi’ costumes are a celebration of Indian and Balinese textile and craft heritage. “The double-knot technique of ikat weaving, which has been used to make the costumes for this production, is practiced only in India and Bali,” says Aravinth. According to Mohanpriya, each dress tells its own story. “For ‘Arisi’, we moved away from silk, typically used in Bharatanatyam, towards textured cotton with exquisite embroidery. Its purpose was to represent the elements through clothing. We hope to serve a platter of creative nuances that the audience will love,” says Mohanpriyan.
Usha Marti Subramaniam Endowment Program
‘Arisi’ is being presented as part of the annual Usha Marty Subramaniam Endowment dance programme. Usha, who spent her formative years in Chennai, trained in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. After her marriage, she moved to America and pursued her passion for art history. At a time when Bharatanatyam was not readily available in America, Usha collaborated with ballet exponent Jacques Dembois to bring Dhananjayan’s students to Radio City Hall in New York. He also established the first gallery of contemporary Indian art in New York. He coordinated and produced several programs with eminent Indian dancers and musicians at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The annual endowment program, established in Usha’s memory, celebrates her futuristic vision of the arts.